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The fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world. Major brands are exploiting garment workers and harming the environment in the production of shoes and clothing. However, there has been a rise in sustainable fashion brands, making everything from sportswear to underwear who are putting people and the planet before profit.

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As food & drink prices continue to rise across the world, it is often the producers and workers who are losing out to big corporations. We shine a light on the food sovereignty movement pushing for a fairer food system that supports local business and we comment on the rise of veganism.

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Many of the issues from our homes & garden are often hidden from the consumer, from toxic chemicals in our cleaning products to pesticides in our garden. We look at the greenest way to wash, clean and cook and how to recycle your old appliances.

The mainstream banking & insurance industries continue to invest in shady investments such as fossil fuels and nuclear weapons. However, a growing number of ethical alternatives makes it easier than ever to switch to a sustainable bank account or pick an insurance company with an ethical policy.

We look at shops or online platforms that sell a range of products, and how they tend to dominate the market by implementing a profit-first business model and by having a lacklustre approach to ethical practice. We also celebrate ethical companies offering an alternative, from online retailers to sustainable fashion brands.

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The tech sector is plagued by reports of tax avoidance, corporate lobbying and the use of conflict minerals. We look at the brands proving that technology can be made ethically, from Fairphone to Green ISP.

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Are you a lover of the outdoors? Unfortunately the companies that provide your outdoor gear & transport are often harming the environment; from car companies cheating emission tests to outdoor gear companies using toxic chemicals that damage the environment. We provide practical information for consumers on how to keep your ethics while you travel.

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How to beat climate concern

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By

Simon Birch

Wednesday 10th of July 2019

What’s the best way to manage eco anxiety, asks Simon Birch.

Hilary Solly is feeling frazzled about the state of the planet. “It’s worse at night when I wake up worrying about all the things that are going wrong in the world,” says Hilary, a university researcher, adding, “I just don’t understand why everybody isn’t panicking about the climate change crisis.”

Hilary isn’t alone in feeling overwhelmed and powerless in the face of the escalating climate and environmental calamity.

Here’s just one anguished Twitter user, @nfgardens, who posted this heartfelt plea recently:

“Does anyone else feel almost constantly on the edge of a breakdown regarding the ongoing catastrophe for our wildlife? I don’t know if I can bear it.”

More and more people are now opening up and admitting that they’re struggling with the relentless wave of negative environmental news with the result that a new term has been coined to describe their condition of helplessness and stress: eco-anxiety.

Whilst the term isn’t yet recognised as a clinical condition, there’s no denying that, for increasing numbers of people, the ongoing environmental crisis is directly affecting their mental health.

“If you care deeply about the future of the planet, then you are going to worry about it, so it’s very natural that people feel anxious about it,” believes cyclist, author and environmentalist Anna Hughes.

So, if you’re feeling ground down by the climate crisis how can you best manage it?

The first thing to think about is that it’s important not to spend too much time reading about the latest round of bad environmental news.

“Try setting a time-limit when you go online so you’re not reading about it all the time,” advises the psychologist and therapist Professor Stephen Palmer.

Professor Palmer also points out that many people who have anxiety suffer from a feeling of something being outside their control:

“The key thing is that if you’re feeling anxious about the climate crisis then get active and do something about it whether it just be talking to your family or joining an environmental group, it’s about being constructive.”

Finally, Professor Palmer warns against falling into the trap of depressing yourself about the state of the world: “Depressed people are normally not motivated to being active so it’s crucial not to ‘awfulise’ the situation by recognising that things are bad right now but it’s not quite yet the end of the world,” says Professor Palmer.

“It’s very important that people become more resilient by avoiding de-motivating thoughts so they can stay focused on the task in hand which is persuading the government and big business to tackle climate change,” adds Professor Palmer.

However, when it comes to taking action against climate change, we all now know what to do, the EC website alone lists 60 different actions to take.

But what difference can one individual realistically make? And given that it’s big business and governments who got us into this mess, shouldn’t it be them who sorts it out?

“What’s really exciting is when governments see individuals and communities acting and leading by example, often this is what finally bounces governments into action on the big measures that are needed.”

Bennett, however, rejects the idea that we should all either be doing as much as possible or nothing at all:

“It’s not all or nothing in this whole debate about individual action. Too often it’s framed that you have to be a hero or zero and I don’t think that’s a helpful debate. We can’t bring about the change we need just by individual action alone.”

And what about Hilary Solly, how is she going to manage her eco-anxiety?

“I’ve decided that I’m going to help set up an Extinction Rebellion group locally,” says Hilary emphatically, “the only solution is direct action!”

Buying second-hand furniture is a great way to reduce your personal environmental impact. This short guide will point you towards some of the more ethical options when buying pre-loved furnishings for your home.

The fight against ‘fatbergs’ in UK sewers received a major boost in January with the publication of a new official UK water industry standard – the Fine to Flush logo – identifying which wet wipes can be flushed down toilets safely. The ‘Fine to Flush’ standard was introduced by Water UK which represents water companies across the country.
If wet wipes pass these tests, they can feature the ‘Fine to Flush’ symbol on their packaging. If they don’t, Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and water companies want to see wipes clearly labelled as ‘Do not flush.’